NATO Jets Shoot Down Drone After Lithuanian Airspace Breach

NATO Jets Shoot Down Drone After Lithuanian Airspace Breach

NATO fighter jets have shot down a drone after it entered Lithuanian airspace, prompting emergency alerts and renewed concerns over security in the Baltic region. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda said the drone was destroyed after crossing into the country from the direction of neighbouring Belarus early Tuesday. “A drone that just entered Lithuanian airspace was destroyed by NATO fighter jets,” Nausėda said. He later stressed the importance of maintaining strong regional defences amid Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine. “With Russia intensifying its aggression against Ukraine, such readiness is vital for our region,” he said, adding that Lithuania would defend its airspace alongside its NATO allies. The drone is believed to have entered southern Lithuania shortly after midnight, with authorities identifying the area near Kaunas, the country’s second-largest city, as a possible entry point. Emergency warnings were sent to residents in Vilnius and surrounding areas, advising them to seek shelter and wait for an all-clear. The drone’s origin has not yet been established, according to Lithuania’s National Crisis Management Centre. Lithuanian forces worked with Italian fighter pilots deployed as part of NATO’s air-defence mission in the country. Lithuania’s Ministry of Defence said the forces responded swiftly to the incursion. The UK Defence Secretary also praised the operation, saying the response demonstrated NATO’s readiness to protect the alliance’s territory.Debris from the destroyed drone was scattered over a wide area and is expected to be examined by investigators to determine its origin, whether it was carrying weapons and why it entered Lithuanian airspace. The incident comes amid increasingly frequent reports of drones entering European airspace since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Lithuania shares a border with Belarus, a close ally of Russia, and has repeatedly raised concerns about potential security threats linked to the conflict. A separate drone was reportedly detected over Lithuania on Sunday, although that incident did not trigger air-raid warnings. Poland has also reported increased military activity and drone-related threats near its border with Ukraine, prompting additional air-defence measures. Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia joined NATO in 2004 and are protected by the alliance’s collective-defence commitment. The latest incident is expected to heighten calls for continued vigilance across NATO’s eastern flank as the war in Ukraine continues. Lithuanian authorities said investigations into the drone would help determine whether the incursion was deliberate or resulted from the aircraft being diverted from its intended course.